Getting old! (No guts no glory!)

[Konrad]

Thanks.
That assumes a lot, like I can read the chart.

This looks like a chart for loading the fuselage tube. My 19mm ballast tube has space for 9 slug. But my slugs are tungsten. I assume the cart is for brass. With all the repairs to my Redshift my empty weight is 2.6kg. Even with brass I'll have to watch the FAI 75g/dm load limit!

What I need to do is graph out the mass and CG shift for using brass in the wing ballast tubes.

But I like the table's wing loading to wind speeds, that should help. Still need to learn how this applies to coastal winds verses inland slopes.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Well, science be damned - I still go by the old slope pylon race (MOM) way I used to use:

If you can fly above 50 feet, its too light.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Konrad]

I tried that hight limit in 30 seconds and found that I was plowing (real heavy).

 

[Doc James Hammond]

I think it does depend a lot on the "liftiness" of the slope - for want of a better term, but I suspect your old Redshift might be becoming a little old and overweight anyway?

For some reason I find as they age, they seem to lose a lot fo that "crispness" that a brand new model has - even if the weight is not so different etc. No idea why.

I have a couple of issues to solve first then we will be on to the new version which I hope will be better.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

To be honest I heavily damaged my first Redshift, ripped off all the control surfaces and tore out one of the wing boxes. So I know where the 100 grams came from.

As to old age I think the issue is stiffness. Wing boxes wear, clevis to horn holes wear and servo gear boxes wear. All making the old bird a bit more loosey goosey.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

To be honest I heavily damaged my first Redshift, ripped off all the control surfaces and tore out one of the wing boxes. So I know where the 100 grams came from.

As to old age I think the issue is stiffness. Wing boxes wear, clevis to horn holes wear and servo gear boxes wear. All making the old bird a bit more loosey goosey.

I think you are probably right Konrad.

I'd be interested to see what wolud happen if a brand new model was flown directly after the old bird.

Actually I suppose the older Redshift could be regarded as a transit point: Strega - Redshift 1 - Redshift Spada. Hopefully there will be positive discernible differences in all three.

Interesting journey.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

You might recall my trials and tribulations with the two Stregas. While they both appear to be the same (as close as I can measure) the Red and White one is noticeably better, and always has been. You might recall that the yellow and black one had what appeared to be shrunk epoxy that pulled the wing wipers up into mini spoilers. Even with reworking the two to measure out the same and with the same control deflections and CG, the red and white is the better of the two ships.

I also now have two Redshifts. the first was yours that I reworked to address the double centering issue with the V-tail. Then on about the 20th flight "I" crashed her into the back side of the SLoT. I was able to repair her to flying shape. Even after giving her such abuse the first Redshift flies so much better than the two Stregas.

I'm building my second Redshift. With any luck I'll see what a ship with proper (undamaged) hinging flies like. (My repair of the 1st Redshift is good, I do see a slight mis-alignment in spots). So I'll soon have two Redshifts to compare to each other.

Now the Redshift Spada is a ship I'm really look forward to seeing. The Redshift Mk1 had a few minor issue that appear to have been addressed. The Spada also has some changes that align with my personal preferences.

Edit: Spada

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Some bits.

 

[Konrad]

Love the smaller cross section fuse with FAI radiused nose. Looks like the nose moment is shorter? Looks like it might be done to aid in post stall spin recovery.
Sorry to see that the Redshift Mk1 and Redshift Spada won't have interchangable wings. (I think I understand why).

Wow, the airfoil looks different (thinner and the nose is different). I also see that you are stepping down one size on the alignment pins.

With the smaller fuse, I assume it will only take wing ballast. Will the joiner be fitted to accept ballast slugs (to minimize GC shift)?

I'm liking this!

All the best,

Konrad

Edit: Spada

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Love the smaller cross section fuse with FAI radiused nose. Looks like the nose moment is shorter? Looks like it might be done to aid in post stall spin recovery.
Sorry to see that the Redshift Mk1 and Redshift Spanda won't have interchangable wings. (I think I understand why).

Wow, the airfoil looks different (thinner and the nose is different). I also see that you are stepping down one size on the alignment pins.

With the smaller fuse, I assume it will only take wing ballast. Will the joiner be fitted to accept ballast slugs (to minimize GC shift)?

I'm liking this!

All the best,

Konrad

Hi Konrad:

Nose moment is a bit shorter, as we don't need to much length to balance given the lighter tail end. Hopefully it will help with departure recovery.

Actually the wings will be interchangeable. The fuselage you see there is not the final version. That also why the aerofoil looks different.

Alignment pins also remain the same as the old one.

Yep only wing ballast, but yes as you say the joiner has slug holes in it - It can take a surprising amount of lead.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Konrad]

I do like the wide V wing root.

I assume the "new" airfoil didn't work as well. Will the Spanda have the same airfoil as the Mk1? I recall you saying that you were changing the airfoil a bit. (Was that what we see in the prototype fuse)?

 

[Doc James Hammond]

I do like the wide V wing root.

I assume the "new" airfoil didn't work as well. Will the Spanda have the same airfoil as the Mk1? I recall you saying that you were changing the airfoil a bit. (Was that what we see in the prototype fuse)?

Hi Konrad, actually I think Ihave confused you.

The skinny fuselage that you see actually is not a Spada type. Its a fuselage that belongs to a project that I was involved in the design of, but didn't come off in the end. It was made AFTER the first Redshift, so maybe you could call it a "practise" Spada model.

YES the SPADA SPA-DA (Not SPANDA by the way) will use the same aerofoil as the MKI - just smoothed a bit. The old wings/tails will fit the new fuse with no discernible difference.

Tails are larger by about 15% and the V angle is reduced from 104 to 100 degrees.

Hopefully these improvements will make a difference.

Cheers,

J.

 

[Konrad]

Thanks,

So what "bits" am I looking at? From context I thought I was seeing the original Redshift Mk1 and new Spada fuselage and drawing.

If the tails fit between the Redshift Mk1 and Spada, I'll want to order 2 sets of Spada tails for my Redshift Mk1s. As you know the tail volume is the only real design issue I have with the Mk1 (some directional instability coming out of a turn).

-Konrad

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Hi Konrad - In this view the fuselage below is identical to the Spada.

Redshift 1 is the fuselage above.

The line drawing the fuselages are sitting on, is of the Spada.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Konrad]

I like the cross section in the drawing (large bottom to allow servo arm and push rod clearance with inverted servo mounting).

But if the wings are interchangeable I see a problem with the wing root. Project X and the drawing have the wing roots parallel. The Redshift Mk1 has that nice V wing root.
I'm at a loss as to how these wing roots configurations would allow wing interchangeability.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

I like the cross section in the drawing (large bottom to allow servo arm and push rod clearance with inverted servo mounting).

But if the wings are interchangeable I see a problem with the wing root. Project X and the drawing have the wing roots parallel. The Redshift Mk1 has that nice V wing root.
I'm at a loss as to how these wing roots configurations would allow wing interchangeability.

Konrad - Sorry I have confused things again.

See below.

I LIED - but not on purpose. The "Project X" drawing below the models is actually the scrapped project NOT the Spada.

The New SPADA DOES have the wing joining angle so I didn't lie about that.

Actually I forgot...probably that damn Al guy again...Dayum!

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

Now that's clear as ink. Looking good!

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Now that's clear as ink. Looking good!

 

[Konrad]

Another race another set of lessons!

Today I raced the Redshift from the start through all the heats. What this means is that I was able to land the Redshift at the slot with no damage round after round. That might not sound like much but it really is key to making progress.

Let me get the stupid things out of the way. I flew 2 rounds with the flaps in "Climb" mode. No more need be said.

I'm still having problems associating wind speed with lift energy. For the first 1/4 of the race I was carrying close to 400 grams of ballast. Flew ok when the lift was strong but for most of the heats I was plowing a bit too much. Later I removed all the ballast and flew much quicker! I added back 200 grams in the last 2 rounds and felt like this was about right for the lift we had. I keep forgetting that the Redshift has less wing area than most of my other 3meter ships! It is so true, that it is better to be under ballasted, than over ballasted. I know this, I just need to put this to practice.

Playing a bit with the aileron differential and rudder mix.

But the big lesson today was with the snap flaps. Again with the wing and airfoil on the Redshift don't use too much. I also learned to bring in the snap flap a lot earlier than I had been. I was trying to use late flap expo to help keep the straight line smooth (little or no vertical hunting). But this resulted in the flaps dropping fast at the end of the elevator pull. This caused the fuse to skid rather the carve the turn. Moving the flap expo earlier helped with a more linear elevator response through out the turn.

A bit about the Redshift. Time and time again I heard how quiet she is. It might be because I'm slow. But even in the diving start the Redshift made little or no noise as she sped past. She did make a low whisper 3 or 4 times. But never the ripping howl of say the very fast FreeStylers.

One last thing about my piloting, I'm getting rather good a the bunt. While I don't like to bunt it means I'm not flying as long a set of legs as I use to fly.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

I think we are all learning a lot from your flying development Konrad - please keep it up sir!

The turns should eventually be better as the wing area is smaller, so if you can get them dialled in, you will come out faster than you went in.

You are really starting to explore this model's potential - I am really happy to see you do this.

And...Redshift Spada is coming hopefully with a lot of the wrinkles ironed out.

Great stuff!

Doc.